' West Ham Utd v Cardiff City' Official Match Thread

http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130815/ ... 84_3349287

The Sun and TalkShite reckon we're in for Vaz Te. I reckon it's made up.

"West Ham defender James Collins set to miss reunion with former club Cardiff City"

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... 9Q.twitter

another complete non story

Another West Ham fan here, coming in peace. Further congrats on promotion.

I agree with the other Hammer on here, you are a confident bunch, nothing wrong with that. I don't see you being relegated. But you will have to worry about it towards the end. Last season, WHU only lost 4 games at home. The only instance in which we were outplayed was the Arsenal game, and even then we only lost towards the end. The other three were against Liverpool, Everton and Spurs. If my memory serves me correctly we were winning in all of them. Spurs only beat us in the very last minute after Ape took one from 30 yards. The Boleyn Ground was a fortress and I expect it to continue this coming season.

Thus, I can not predict that we will lose come Saturday. But I don't foresee an easy game, either. I would much rather be playing a Fulham or a Southampton than the newly promoted Champions of the fizzy-pop. Momentum tends to continue over the summer. It usually slows down, which can be a huge problem, but come Saturday you will put up a tough fight. I won't pretend to know how you set up to play, but I will run yous through how we play. (We don't hoof it half as much as you probably imagine. There were 9 teams who played more long balls last season. When you visit St James' Park, prepare for launch.)

The main faucet of our play is getting it wide. Particularly to Jarvis. When teams shut down Jarvis, that's when we play at our worst. Expect many, many crosses from the left hand side on Sat, and expect a few mazy runs from Momo Diame. Also expect to see Ravel Morrison at some point, who has greatly impressed in pre-season, and Downing. Joe Cole will likely start.

If I were you, the 3 players from West Ham I would worry about would be in no particular order: Jarvis, Diame and Winston Reid. Reidy is the most natural defender we have seen at Upton Park since Rio Ferdinand came through our youth system. Just unbelievably good last season. He also recorded the fastest speed of any player in the PL last year, faster than Walcott, Lennon etc. He is incredibly agile, and won 81.1% of his aerial duels last season, compared to Caulker's 40.8%. (Not knocking him, great signing). Then there's Diame. As I said, he dribbles so well. A true box to box midfielder. He also wins an incredible amount of tackles, as does Noble. But Diame often goes missing, particularly away from home. Then there's Jarvis. Most crosses overall in the PL last season, most successful crosses in the PL last season. Acceleration like you wouldn't believe. He is truly two-footed, so full backs never know what foot to show him onto. Goes missing sometimes, but is a huge talent. He will be our main threat.

I predict 2-1 to us. But to be honest, you could definitely snatch a draw. A loss for WHU feels unlikely simply because last season, no one except Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Everton who are obviously top teams, beat us at home. I hope your right-back is prepared for Jarvis. Brayford ain't it? We were linked with him. Very, very good signing.

Good luck lads.

I stuck a tenner on a CCFC win... Need to be optimistic

Preview from the official website:

http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/art ... 94437.aspx

http://foreverwestham.com/2013/08/blog- ... gue-season?

Downing is a great buy for them.

Pinched 2 from Liverpool now.

That game where Miller scored in the last minute was quite special!

It was a great result for us, no doubt about it, but Miller had played like he had a club foot right up to the point he scored

I remember Malky screaming at Earnie every 10 minutes for being caught offside frequently...

City boss Malky Mackay speak to the press ahead of the Bluebirds opening game v West Ham.

Malky said: "We're all excited. We've worked hard through the summer and we're ready.

"It's not about looking back, we need to look forward and the club has grown massively in a relatively short space of time, we want to bring the best players to this club, I'll make no apologies for that.

"We've hot a squad that is in the Premier League on merit & deserve to be here. Anything we bring in needs to be an improvement.

"When this was the first fixture I had a smile on my face.I had a great time West Ham & we're going up against a top manager.

"Andreas is training with us today and we'll see how he does today before we decide about tomorrow, otherwise it's a fully fit squad.

"I'll be proud for everyone at this football club tomorrow. I've had a great time in Cardiff & in Wales and it'll be a proud moment."


Cardiff City Football Club
Peter Whittingham up first to face the press in this mornings pre-match presser.

Asked if he'd met 'The Pitbull' yet, Whitts said: "I literally just walked past him then... I was a bit scared to be honest!"

"We're all really looking forward to it, we'll go to West Ham looking for the win.

"I'm sure the Premier League has changed a bit since I was last there, but we're all confident and want to do well in this league.

"I'm sure the Premier League has changed a bit since I was last there, but we're all confident and want to do well in this league.

"We know just how good West Ham are and we know the test that faces us tomorrow.

"It's going to be tough but where would you rather be? In the Premier League or going for it again in the Championship? No brainer."

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/six-decad ... ham-games/?

Daily Mail: Team news etc.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... debut.html

SSN preview

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live ... 95/preview

Best of luck to all the lads! A very proud moment for all associated to the club today! Lets stuff the hammers!

Medel starts!

.@CardiffCityFC XI: Marshall; Connolly, Turner, Caulker, John; Medel, Gunnarsson, Kim, Whittingham, Bellamy; Campbell

.@CardiffCityFC bench: Lewis; Hudson, Smith, Gestede, Mutch, Cowie, Maynard.

West Ham United starting XI: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Jarvis, Cole, Maiga #BPLKickOff

West Ham United subs: Adrian, Tomkins, Rat, Diarra, Morrison, Downing, Vaz Te

Connolly done far too easily against Jarvis there

Connolly done far too easily against Jarvis there

Skinned. We need better

Connoly not looking good here...

Someone's got to stand on Collins.

No good letting him take the ball out the back and pump balls into our box at will.

Connoly is having a mare so far, doesn't look good.

Do we have a reason why Brayford isn't in the squad?

Well Mackay said the whole squad is fit. Maybe he screwed someone's mrs/daughter/sister?

Gonna be a long season.

We need to learn to keep the ball. Don't mind going backwards at times but then why does Marshall simply boot it long. Defenders need to show for it and play it out

We can still get back into this - let's be honest W Ham are awful... A bit of composure and passing and we can get a goal

Worth pointing out that there is no problem on John's sde.

Worth pointing out that there is no problem on John's sde.

Everything coming down our right as they smell the weakness, especially now Connolly is on a yellow

We need to learn to keep the ball. Don't mind going backwards at times but then why does Marshall simply boot it long. Defenders need to show for it and play it out

Yeah exactly, they should be showing that they want the ball but instead Marshall has to hoof it forward and then they come and attack us again!